It would be great if you could do a poll. Though I do suggest that you search prior posts to see if one has been done before.

I currently use a Normcore screen on top. No paper below. I did test it out, with high quality lab paper on top only, on the bottom only and both.

The results are tucked away somewhere, but I did not find any significant benefit to paper below. If my memory serves me correctly, it reduced the body of the shots. As I do like abit of body in my espresso, I stopped using paper below.

As for paper above, it (like a metal puck screen) keeps your machine diffusion screen cleaner and (if I recall correctly) reduces channeling. But I found that a metal puck screen does a better job at that and is reusable. You can buy the screens in various thicknesses, to get the extent of headspace reduction you want and manage thermal loss. I currently use a fairly thick one and preheat it before placing on top of the puck.

As I said I tried the paper out for abit and then stopped.

I used to cut areopress filters to size, but recently bought Cuptimo Filters – Functional Accessories and these work even better.

drdre89 normally just wipe the portafilter with a paper towel after each shot if I’m making multiple shots. I suppose I will try and see if a puckscreen can be beneficial with my workflow

I’ve been using an aeropress paper filter at the top of the puck, but recently changed it over to a puck screen. Not this is nothing to do with “better taste in the cup”: I simply use it so that I keep the shower screen clean, and, in the case of a puck screen and the Elizabeth, it avoids the “stuck puck” phenomenon. They get “dirty” easily, so make sure you keep it clean and rinse in PulyCaf or whatever every week or two, depending on usage.

I only make espresso for myself. If you make espresso consecutively for other people on the same round, then consider buying multiple puck screens. You don’t need to buy branded ones like normcore or Flair. I’m somewhat skeptical when a small mesh of stainless steel costs more than a coffee basket. 😉 I bought mine from Amazon and paid around £5, delivered. Some sellers give you the ability to buy a pack of them. You can buy them cheaper on AliExpress for example. I might be wrong, but I do wonder whether they are all the same, just branded accordingly.

I got these from Amazon

HOTUT Coffee Filters Papers for Aeropress, 100 Pcs×58mm Round Coffee Filters Papers, Micro Paper Filters Replacement Compatible with Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker - White https://amzn.eu/d/9hrfD1D

They lip up slightly in the bottom but perfect for the top of a puck

I’m the odd sheep

Don’t warm the pf or the puck screen…

drdre89 do you heat up your puck screen by running hot water over it first? Or just put it straight on top of the puck dry…

If I remember, I put the puck screen on top of the machine to warm up. But I’m not 20 something anymore, so I often forget it on the drip tray. I definitely do not warm up running water through it.

I often wonder whether there’s any value in warming a naked portafilter up - I’m not sure if it makes any difference, as per Jake’s comment above. I understand warming up a spouted one, as the coffee touches it and, if it’s not hot, then the coffee will be cold.

But autopilot always turns the machine on, locks the PF loosely on the group and, after 20 minutes or so… it’s ready to brew.

drdre89 not sure but the shot tastes cleaner which I like… or I may be over thinking it

Likely so. 😉 - unless you altered the grind setting - you shouldn’t need to. If you did, and are using a mesh puck screen, it’s likely the puck has not enough headspace to expand, causing the shot to flow much slower.